The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Speaker U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Mitch McConnell Majority Leader U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Kevin McCarthy Minority Leader U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Charles Schumer Minority Leader U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510
April 10, 2020 Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCarthy, Leader McConnell, and Leader Schumer, On behalf of our millions of members and activists, we write to strongly support expanded federal assistance and investment in programs that continue to focus on addressing people’s health and livelihood, and particularly patients, health professionals and the most vulnerable communities with pre-existing health conditions and those who lack access to health care, basic incomes and other essential services. The top priority should clearly be support for the health system, its workers and saving lives. We are actively working with members of Congress and asking you to support specific programs in the stimulus bill you are currently considering that: 1. Provide Food, Basic Income and Housing for the Most Vulnerable: expand and extend food assistance; protect our food supply chain; expand and extend unemployment assistance and broader worker supports around paid leave; and invest more in housing programs including Community Development Block Grants and project-based rental assistance. 2. Support State and local Governments: expand general support for state and local budgets and programs - keep essential state programs and agencies afloat – now is not the time for big state budget cuts. Provide at least $250 billion to states and cities to cover continuation of basic and
critical non-COVID19 related services, with 40 percent of funding committed to direct allocations to cities based on population. Washington D.C. must be considered a state government, not a territory. We encourage you to provide states and cities with flexibility on determining critical basic services, and to ensure proper oversight, require reporting by the state or local auditor. Keep essential state and local services running. 3. Protect Vulnerable Communities’ Energy and Water Needs: sustain access to water and energy through bill assistance (LIHEAP and water) and utility shut-off bans and safe reconnections. 4. Support Small Business: expand funding for any small business assistance program in order to support essential clean energy businesses, small farmers and many others. 5. Protect the Health and Safety of Essential Workers: use all federal authorities to ensure the production and release of needed personal protection equipment and supplies, and require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue an emergency temporary standard for infectious diseases to ensure that workers will be protected from all infectious diseases. While we understand that the near-term focus of this stimulus package is on relief, we stand ready to work with policy makers in the future on how to restore and grow jobs and the economy through investment in clean energy, infrastructure and a broad set of programs to put people back to work. Sincerely
Gina McCarthy President, NRDC